Shloka 6
Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)
यो हासत्प्रग्रहरति: स्नेहरागबलात्कृत: । इन्द्रियाणामनीशत्वादसज्जनबु भूषक:
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: yo hāsatpragraharatiḥ sneharāgabalāt kṛtaḥ | indriyāṇām anīśatvād asajjanabubhūṣakaḥ ||
ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಅಸತ್ಕಾರ್ಯ ವಸ್ತುಗಳ ಸಂಗ್ರಹದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಸಕ್ತನಾಗಿ, ಸ್ನೇಹ-ರಾಗದ ಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿ, ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಗಳನ್ನು ವಶಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾರದೆ ಸಜ್ಜನನಾಗಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಆಸೆಯೂ ಇಲ್ಲದ ರಾಜನ ಬಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಉತ್ತಮ ಕುಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ ಸೇವಕರೂ ಸಹ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಗುಣಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ.
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s lack of self-control and attachment to unworthy acquisitions corrupts the moral quality of his household and administration; therefore, mastery of the senses and aspiration toward goodness are essential for effective and prosperous governance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a principle of political ethics: when a king is driven by craving and cannot restrain his senses, even well-born servants become perverted in conduct, and the king loses the practical benefits of maintaining a competent, loyal retinue.